Remembrance Day

I am not necessarily a fan of re-posting, but when I say this posted on My name is Kate and she had mentioned finding it on another site I realized this was a good opportunity to re-post.

I am always moved by Remembrance Day. When I was a high school teacher in Fort McMurray our school's drama teacher, Karen Towsley, always did an amazing job putting on a dramatic (usually music playing in the background, well, loud enough to move us - and usually Chris DeBurg's "Borderline') well the students moved through silhouettes of a story of the song - soldiers heading off to war and then only a small number returning at the end. I always cried. No surpirse to those who know me - this video also caused tears to well up. I'm such a softy!

Tar Heels - Pre-season favorites...and now the star is injured

To catch everyone up to speed. Here are some links to the Heels being ranked #1 and/or being heavy favorites as pre-season lists come out:

newsobserver.com | College notes: Tar Heels ranked No. 1 by coaches

Daily Tar Heel - Tar Heels ranked unanimous No. 1

Heels Ranked #1 In Preseason Coaches' Poll

And now today it is announced (on Halloween) that the star player, Tyler Hansborough is out (for an unspecified period of time) with a stress reaction condition (which is something short of a stress fracture...but could lead to one if not rested.)

TSN.ca TSN.ca

Hansbrough's return from injury indefinite The Associated Press - 32 minutes ago CHAPEL HILL, NC (AP) — The father of reigning national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough said Friday it's unclear if the North Carolina star will miss any ... HANSBROUGH INJURY SETS UNC BACK FOXSports.com Tyler Hansbrough out indefinitely with a shin injury; Tar Heels No ... Chicago Sun-Times Hansbrough sidelined indefinitely with shin injury Sports Network Maui News - United Press International all 337 news articles »

UNC down but not out without Hanbrough
ESPN - 17 minutes ago (search conducted at 4:15 p.m. MST, Oct. 31, 2008)
Pinpointing an exact return for Tyler Hansbrough, who is out with a stress reaction condition in his right shin, will be a fluid process. ...

I love Tar Heel drama.

Goodbye my friend: Janet Kohlsmith

Sad news today. I learned that a good friend from high school passed away last Friday. From what I can read (mostly on Facebook) it appears that she died in a car accident. Here is the obituary from the Edmonton Journal: Janet Phillips PHILLIPS, Janet Ilene (nee Kohlsmith) December 20, 1972 - September 12, 2008 Janet passed away suddenly on Friday, September 12th, 2008 at age 35. She is loving and forever remembered by husband Brett, children, Brett Jr., Brandon and Kelsi; mother Frances Kohlsmith, brother David, wife Eunice and children Madison and Jared; sister Tracey, daughter Briana and Brian McWhirter and father Glen Kohlsmith; Mike and Dawn Yurkovitch, children Tom and Jessica, grandmother Olga Palmer and brother Paul Phillips. As well as the countless friends she has forever touched. Visitation will take place on Friday, September 19th 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. at Park Place Funeral Home, 51 Broadway Boulevard, Sherwood Park, Alberta with celebration of her life on September 20th at 10:00 a.m. Private family burial to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in Janet's memory can be made to: Athabasca Gymnastics Club (Sue) 780-675-9530 Brett Jr's School - Whispering Hills Primary School for children's activities. 780-675-4546 and/or Athabasca Golf & Country Club Ladies Night

The 2008 Academic Ranking of World Universities

Well UofT made it (#24 overall, #19 in North America), so did UBC (28/35), McGill (42/60), McMaster (54/89), UofA (59-77/101-151), and Université de Montréal (59-77/101-151). The last two are not specifically ranked, only placed in a category range.

http://www.arwu.org/rank2008/EN2008.htm

What is interesting is that the web site is copyright by the Center for World-Class Universities (a Chinese organization). And they describe the purpose as finding the gap between Chinese universities and world-class ones. The top Chinese university is the National Taiwan Univ. (17-22/152-200) followed by Chinese Univ. Hong Kong (23-41/201-302). The first mainland China university is Nanjing Univ. (23-41/201-302). Admittedly so, the ranking are for their sake of establishing standards for themselves and best practices and allow them to model, learn, or pull from the top universities. The rankings were not meant for any other purpose.

Sure is interesting to read.

Time flies - are we having fun yet?

I can not believe how quickly time flies - in all aspects of life, and specifically in the blogosphere. It has been so long since I last posted and although I have thought to myself on many occasions it is time to blog again - time did not wait.

My friend Dave has recently convinced me the two of us need a blog that we can contribute together on. He has already posted seven or so entries and he is still waiting for my first. Now that I have finally gotten Scribefire configured I am hoping that first entry will come soon. Check it out here: http://daveh-flatearththingswethoughtweknew.blogspot.com/